Paragraph 80. The teeth of cross-cutting saws, instead of being filed square across like rip saw teeth, are filed at an angle, so that the cutting edge of each tooth approaches the wood very much in the manner of a keen knife blade. This is the feature which makes it possible for a cross-cutting saw to sever the fibers of wood and make a smooth cut across the grain. Figure 64 shows you the shape of the teeth of a cross-cutting saw.

Figure 64.

You will observe that the front, or cutting edge, of each tooth leans slightly backward toward the heel of the saw. The side view shows that the teeth are beveled. This is done by filing them half from one side and the other half from the opposite side. The teeth are also given more set than was found in the rip saw. This may be seen from the edge and end view. A careful study of the characteristic features of cross-cutting saws, together with a little thoughtful experimenting in the shop, will enable you to understand these points fully.